MADISON - Michael Nelson, age 71, of Madison, passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. He was born on Nov. 22, 1950, the son of Elbert and Kathleen (Lankford) Nelson.

Michael graduated from Albion High School in Albion, Ill., and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He was united in marriage to Ramona Dicken on March 26, 1977.

Mike loved the Lord and was a member of City Church in Madison. He had an incredible servant’s heart and always went out of his way to serve his family and community, regularly sacrificing his own comforts and desires to take care of others. He enjoyed spending time with his family, skiing, fishing, camping, ruck marching, volunteering, and cheering on his Badgers at Camp Randall. He was incredibly witty, smart, thoughtful, humble, and wise.

He served in the U.S. Army and was deployed to Vietnam when he was just 19 years old. Upon returning from Vietnam, he was a farmer in Southern Illinois for several years before re-joining the Army, serving almost 26 years in all. He loved serving his country as a soldier. After retiring from the military, he connected with Veteran groups like Team Rubicon and Team Red, White, and Blue, where he volunteered for various disaster relief missions around the country and joined other Veterans for weekly ruck marches around Madison, including a recent 22km “Operation Ruck 22” to raise awareness of Veteran suicide. Following his retirement from the military, he worked for the Wisconsin Elections Commission until his second retirement in 2021.

Mike is survived by his wife, Ramona; daughters, Rachel (Shawn) Nicholson and Rebekah (Alrick) Williams; grandchildren, Caleb, Jacob, Joshua, and Aaron Nicholson and Gabriella Williams; mother, Kathleen; sisters, Carole (Andy) Krajec, Norma Keener, and Karleen (Terry) Lambert; brother, Dwight (Renita) Nelson; and many nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Elbert.

Funeral services will be held at CITY CHURCH, 4909 E. Buckeye Road, Madison, at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 28, 2022, with the Rev. Derrick Wright and the Rev. Tom Flaherty presiding. Burial will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park in Monona. Visitation will be held at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Monday.

As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be sent to the family in care of Gunderson East Funeral and Cremation Care, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, WI 53716. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com <http://www.gundersonfh.com>.

Gunderson East

Funeral & Cremation Care

5203 Monona Drive

(608) 221-5420

Michael R. Nelson

November 22, 1950 - February 16, 2022

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